MOBILE, ALA. — Nicole May, a real estate analyst with Grandbridge Real Estate Capital LLC, has been awarded the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation by the CCIM Institute. May was among the more than 240 commercial real estate professionals who earned the designation by passing the Institute’s Comprehensive Examination, the final element in the designation process. Less than one percent of commercial real estate professionals in the world hold the CCIM designation.

The CCIM designation is awarded to commercial real estate professionals upon successful completion of a graduate-level education curriculum and presentation of a portfolio of qualifying industry experience. The curriculum addresses: financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis and investment analysis – the cornerstones of commercial investment real estate. CCIMs are recognized experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management, valuation, and investment analysis.

“When Niki started at Grandbridge, she had no background in commercial real estate, but she set out to learn. She quickly realized that the CCIM courses would be an excellent way to learn our business. Her CCIM designation recognizes her professionalism, hard work and dedication. All of us at Grandbridge are very proud of her achievements, especially her CCIM designation,” explained Grandbridge Senior Vice President Richard Brinson, manger of the company’s Mobile, Ala., office.

Ms. May, a member of Grandbridge’s production team since 2004, is located in the company’s Mobile, Ala., loan origination office where she is responsible for multiple roles including new client cultivation and maintaining existing client relationships. Specifically, Ms. May conducts market research and analysis, loan underwriting, and lender submission preparation. In addition, she assists Grandbridge's closing department with the closing process and performs annual property inspections. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a management concentration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

As a CCIM member, Ms. May now has access to unparalleled level of valuable online tools, including the Site to Do Business, a suite of mapping, demographic and other analytical resources. Moreover, she can now market properties for sale or lease through CCIMNet, a leading commercial property exchange. The CCIM business network encompasses 1,000 markets throughout North America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. Of the estimated 125,000 commercial real estate practitioners in North America, 8,000 currently hold the CCIM designation. An additional 8,000 professionals are pursuing the designation as Institute candidates. The Chicago-based CCIM Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors¨ and is the governing body of the largest commercial real estate network in the world.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Grandbridge, a subsidiary of BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) principal subsidiary Branch Banking and Trust Company, is one of the largest full-service commercial and multifamily mortgage banking companies in the nation, has a broad investor base that includes insurance companies, CMBS lenders, pension fund advisors, and commercial banks as well as a proprietary lending platform. Grandbridge is a Fannie Mae DUS® (Delegated Underwriting and Servicing) lender, a Freddie Mac Program Plus® seller/servicer and an active participant in multifamily products insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The company arranges permanent commercial and multifamily real estate loans, services loan portfolios, and provides asset and portfolio management and real estate brokerage services. It operates production offices in 28 cities across the country. Grandbridge’s servicing portfolio was more than $21 billion as of Dec. 31. More information about Grandbridge is available at www.gbrecap.com.

With $130.8 billion in assets and more than 1,500 financial centers in 11 states, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) is the nation’s 14th largest financial holding company. More information about the company is available at BBT.com.

The Chicago-based CCIM Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors® and is the governing body of the largest commercial real estate network in the world. Visit www.ccim.com to learn more, or call 800-621-7027.

Contacts

BUSINESS

Thomas S. Dennard
Grandbridge CEO
704.379.6910

LOCAL

Richard Brinson
Senior Vice President / Grandbridge Loan Production
251.473.1831

MEDIA

Patricia Muse
Grandbridge Marketing
205.978.1139